Cigarette classification as a consumer message

Cigarette yields of tar, nicotine, and carbon monoxide, obtained by standard smoking machine procedures, have been adopted as official consumer information throughout the world. However, real-life dynamics of cigarette puffing and inhalation are not standard, but follow widely fluctuating individual behavior. In addition, smokers inhale after puffing, an event that standard smoking machines do not address. Clearly then, analytical cigarette yields alone are insufficient as quantitative predictors of smoke intake valid for all smokers. Bioavailability studies show that virtually all cigarettes, regardless of analytical yield, can satisfy the nicotine demand of any smoker. On the other hand, tar intake and nicotine intake are related according to the tar-to-nicotine ratio of the smoke, which varies with brands. Thus, while a generalized message predictive of quantitative individual intake is not feasible, tar-to-nicotine ratios of standard analytical yields tell any smoker about expectations of proportional tar intake from different brands, and should be adopted as the preferred consumer message.